Final answer:
A billing and coding specialist must handle patient records in accordance with HIPAA, ensuring that any sharing of records, such as with a patient's partner, is done with proper consent to maintain patient privacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The billing and coding specialist must be aware of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which regulates the confidentiality and security of medical records. According to HIPAA, sharing a patient's health information, including sending their records to another person, requires the patient's consent due to privacy considerations. In situations where the patient's partner might need access to the patient's records, the healthcare provider must ascertain that the necessary consents are in place before any disclosure, ensuring that the patient's privacy rights are not violated as outlined by HIPAA, especially in the context of revealing a patient's diagnosis.
Additionally, while the exchange of digital records among health providers is a way to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs, the privacy of electronic health information must be strictly maintained. When discussing patient care, such as during a surgical team's review of key concerns for recovery and care, the conversation must remain confidential and only include relevant medical personnel to protect the patient's health information as per legal requirements.